Once Late NT Rama Rao had said that the Centre is an illusion and only states are a reality. This is the concept that drives federalism in our country, something that cannot be ignored. Nationalism gives a great sense of pride but too much nationalism by ignoring or insulting regional sentiments and aspirations will only harm the country in the long-term. Adding religion to nationalism or individual cult feeling will only give rise to acrimony like how it’s happening currently in Pakistan and the disastrous policies being pursued by Russia’s Putin, Turkey’ Erdogan and former leaders of USA and Brazil, Donald Trump and Bolsanaro respectively.
Even before the BJP, Indians irrespective of their language and region rallied behind national icons, armed forces, national cricket team and many other things with pride and a great feeling that they are all ‘Indian’s first. However these days publicly mentioning regional pride has become a thorn in the flesh for BJP, its supporters and allies all over the country, and this ire is being taken out on social media platforms.
Congratulating the team of RRR for winning a Golden Globe Award, AP CM YS Jagan mentioned Telugu flag in his tweet and the recent Pakistani-turned-Modi fan-turned Indian citizen Adnan Sami thundered saying how can there be a Telugu flag. Yes, there is no such a thing called Telugu Flag but it is a metaphor for Telugu pride and there is nothing wrong or anti-India in it. If we ignore this issue saying it was done by a person with freedom of speech, then what about the other controversy in Tamil Nadu.
The Governor Ravi sent an invite for an event at Raj Bhavan with the name ‘Tamilagam’ instead of Tamil Nadu and printed the National emblem instead of the official Tamil Nadu state emblem of Temple Gopuram. He also ignored the speech given by the government and instead, added his own words that has led to huge protests for recalling him immediately. It has to be remembered that India is a collection of states and such violent outside imposition of rules hasn’t done well for the country earlier in Punjab, Kashmir or even North East in the past. For those who truly believe in national pride, they should also remember that India is a symbol of Unity in Diversity and not Diversity in Unity and it’s high time nationalists stop playing with fire.
